Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect?
I have the Z51 suspension. Will 1" make a difference as far as looks? If so, how long will it take for me to notice (I hear it takes a while to settle). Will the ride be significantly rougher or will it be negligible? Will I be able to get by on the Z51 or will i need to change out shocks or other components? If I do get the Bilsteins, will the ride be better with these shocks then if I had not lowered the car at all and did not change shocks?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 80
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Ha-Ha)
I originally lowered an inch. Personally, I felt I wasted my time, too little to notice substantialy. Now it sits in the weeds, went with the 7 inch bolts in the back and cut the front bushing, it looks awesome!!!!! :cool: 
More pics here:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/tonyscott/Z06.htm
[Modified by racer44, 12:54 PM 12/25/2001]
More pics here:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/tonyscott/Z06.htm
[Modified by racer44, 12:54 PM 12/25/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 399
From: North Haven, CT
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Ha-Ha)
You can expect your car to look a LOT better. I think mine went down about 1", I took it down about as far it would go on the stock bolts, no bushings cut. How far your car will go down seems to vary from car to car. I've seen other cars go much lower than mine on the stock bolts. Try it on the stock bolts without cutting the bushing first, then see how you like it and go lower if you want with longer bolts, etc. I'm happy with my ride hight now, I don't think I could get away with it much lower than this, Connecticut road aren't nice enough. :D I'm happy with the handling, a little stuff, but seems to turn just as well as it did before. If you go lower than 1" you may need Bilsteens. But just lowering it on the bolts should be fine with the Z51 shocks.
Racer44, car looks AWESOME! :cool:
Racer44, car looks AWESOME! :cool:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Ha-Ha)
Unless you do as Racer44 did, you won't get it down 1". If you do, it will ride (and bottom) like a turkey. Put it down a tad less, without cutting the frint bushings, and you will be fine. Any lower, on a "street" car, and you will have a real problem looking for someplace to happen. :smash:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 29,737
Likes: 0
Kid Rock Fan
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (BillY2KFRC)
I used the RK Sport lowering bolts with urethane bushings in the rear on mine and just torqued down the bolts in the front. It took about 30 miles to "settle" but the difference is highly noticeable, particularly when parked next to a non-lowered C5. I'm toying with the idea of cutting the front bushings to drop the front end just a bit more, but it looks pretty good already!
Good luck,
Dave
Good luck,
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
From: Palm Beach Shores, FL
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Ha-Ha)
I had the Z51 and lowered it using the stock bolts. It only came down an inch. Made somewhat of a difference in looks. Not much IMO. I didn't want to cut bushings as I have read that when that is done, the ride suffers. I finally bit the bullet and put the Breatless Performance coil over suspension on the car. I can go as low as I want. I'm now at 26.25 front and 26.75 rear. Could go lower, but I scrape speed bumps as it is. You might want to look into other alternatives. Eric
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,299
Likes: 33
From: Houston Texas
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Drop_Top_Dave)
I'm about to do this but have some reservations. I'm only lowering for asthetics(sp?) but don't want to ruin my ride or decrease my performance(due to the shock not having proper amount of travel). Is this possible? How far down will it go with 3-4 threads showing? I'm running a 265/35/18 series tire in the front and right now the gap has increased due to the shorter sidewall.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 80
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (rschiltz)
I must add to my previous post, when I first lowered my car, I just turned the bolts on the front and back. The ride did not change that much. I made a decision, that I will give a little "ride" away for the "look". So as you see my car, it really looks great, pics don't do it justice, BUT , you better be prepared to change your driving style somewhat and the ride is harsher (the back is fine as I used longer bolts, and still have the full bushings, but the front is noticably harsher). I am making a set of frame savers, that should help with the speed bumps, but if you have some rough roads you go over all the time, you might not want to do this option.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (rschiltz)
I'm about to do this but have some reservations. I'm only lowering for asthetics(sp?) but don't want to ruin my ride or decrease my performance(due to the shock not having proper amount of travel). Is this possible? How far down will it go with 3-4 threads showing? I'm running a 265/35/18 series tire in the front and right now the gap has increased due to the shorter sidewall.
Thanks,
Thanks,
.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
From: Palm Beach Shores, FL
Re: Lowering Vette 1" - What to expect? (Ha-Ha)
I'm with you - strictly for appearance but ride and perfrmance take a priority. I didn't expect so many varied responses to this question. One owner mentions that you'll bottom out or ride like a turkey at an inch. Some don't feel there is an appearance difference. I'll have to get in touch with some of the S Fla owners or just do it and see. If it doesn't affect the ride, then there is no loss. I guess I can always go back to where it was but there will be a few wasted $$$ since I don't do much work on the car myself and I'll probably have to pay someone to do it. Thank You all for your responses.
[Modified by oceanaire, 5:45 PM 12/25/2001]